There are more than 200 species, and hundreds of varieties of clematis, so the choice is somewhat confusing, but they can be divided into three broad groups:

1. Early small-flowering varieties like the popular C montana, and the pretty C macropetala and C. alpina.

2. Early large-flowered cultivars that bloom from early to late summer – the group in flower now.

3. Late large-flowering varieties in flower from mid-to-late summer.

There are also herbaceous clematis, like C integrifolia, which look lovely in the border at the moment with their deep blue recurved flowers. Although some of the small flowered species are among my favourites, like the delicate, pure white C viticella “Alba Luxurians” and the double, dark purple “Etoile Violette”, the large flowered forms are breathtaking. Whether the velvety crimson “Rouge Cardinal”, china blue “Perle d’Azur” or deep purple “The President”, they bring something to the garden no other plant can.